India might devise its own No-Fly list to ensure safer air travel experience

Jayant Sinha in a conversation with TOI said that they are working towards a better and safer framework for air travel.

The No Fly List is different from the Terrorist Watch List, a much longer list of people said to be suspected of some involvement with terrorism. As of June 2016, the Terrorist Watch List is estimated to contain over 2,484,442 records, consisting of 1,877,133 individual identities. (Reuters)

In order to revamp its aviation security, India is considering to devise its own version of a No-Fly List. Flyers who are perceived to be a threat for co-passengers and the crew might soon be barred from flying. Jayant Sinha in a conversation with TOI said that they are working towards a better and safer framework for air travel.

Sinha said that they are drawing up plans for a safer air travelling and might consider the No-Fly list in its plans. The concept comes from the US, where a list is created and maintained by the United States federal government’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), of people who are prohibited from boarding a commercial aircraft for travel in or out of the United States. The list has also been used to divert aircraft away from US airspace that is not flying to or from the US.

The No Fly List is different from the Terrorist Watch List, a much longer list of people said to be suspected of some involvement with terrorism. As of June 2016, the Terrorist Watch List is estimated to contain over 2,484,442 records, consisting of 1,877,133 individual identities.

Recently, there have been incidents where unruly passengers have threatened the security of the flight. Last month, a flyer is known to have stripped himself bare in the lavatory of the aircraft and later tried to call airhostesses inside by ringing the bell.

According to sources, threat from such unruly passengers is increasing day-by-day and can become a challenge for the country.